Effect of Cooperative Learning on Students’ Attitude and Performance towards Probability Distributions in Statistics

Abstract

The study was designed to determine the effect of cooperative learning on students’ attitude and performance towards probability distributions in statistics. The design for the study was quasi-experimental control group pre-test and post-test design. Sample for the study consisted of 60 second year students at Mukuba University who were not repeating statistics. Data for the study was collected through two researcher developed instruments: Probability Distributions Performance Test (PDPT) and Probability Distribution Attitude Questionnaire (PDAQ). The 60 students were divided into two classes of 30 students each and were assigned to experimental group and control group respectively. The experimental group was taught using cooperative learning approach while the control group was taught using conventional learning approach. Data for the study was analysed using mean, standard deviation and independent t-test statistics. The null hypothesis was tested at 5% significance level. The findings of the study revealed that cooperative learning improved students’ academic performance in Probability Distributions in Statistics. Furthermore, the findings of the study revealed that cooperative learning approach increased student’s positive attitude towards statistics in the experimental group as compared to the control group. Therefore, incorporating cooperative learning approach in teaching statistics was found to have a positive effect on enhancing students’ performance and attitude towards statistics.

Keywords: Cooperative Learning Approach, Conventional Learning Approach, Attitude, Performance